Challenge No. 12 in Print

My photography series book has arrived, marking the end of challenge no 12. There are four mini series included (discARTed, Cats of Istanbul, Kid Stylists, and Creepy Disfigured Street Toys). It turned out pretty well:

Photography Disorder

Challenge no. 12 was to make a conceptual photo series and preferably print it into a book. I ended having too many ideas and went back and forth on a few and started one and then another until, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, the year is almost up. So instead of doing one photo series, I did more than one. And I'm printing them all into one book, which I ordered today via Mixbook.com. I'm calling it MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHIC SERIES DISORDER.

So there's my photo series(s). Challenge no. 12 is now done, although I will do another post once my book arrives. Tada!

Reconnaissance Mission

I recently went artist-stalking at Brooklyn Art Space (formerly Brooklyn Artists Gym where I took my watercolor painting class) in order to collect more scraps for my photo series, "Discarted," for challenge no. 12.

Not only did I get to take some pictures, but I met a few artists who welcomed me anytime to their work space to take more pictures of their used paper towels (you can imagine the awkward opening question). And, if you're curious, the overwhelming majority of painters prefer Bounty over any other brand.

Here are some of my favorite images from the visit (this artist preferred old t-shirts over paper towels, and I think it made for some really interesting shots):

Accidental Photo Series

I know I already had challenge no. 12 (create a conceptual photo series) figured out, but this just happened. Presenting the cats of Istanbul:

Pricilla. 

 Neil.

 Agatha.

Sultan.

 Spike.

Jimmy.

 Ikat.

Dotty.

Discarted

No, that's not a typo. Here are four photos to add to my photo series (challenge no. 12), which I haven't officially developed a name for yet (although I have grown fond of "Discarted"). In this series I take pictures of paper towels used (and eventually discarded) in art projects. They are not the things that are meant to be beautiful or meant to be showcased afterward. But they can be beautiful and I wanted to see if I could capture that. The larger they are, the more striking they become, so I urge you to click on each image.

Switching Gears

I've changed my mind.

This was my original idea for a photo series (challenge no. 12). The problem is, I don't know many people with small children, and getting a friend of a friend of a friend to let you into their home, force them into a prom dress from 1995, smear makeup all over their face, and then take pictures of them is proving to be more difficult than anticipated.

Basically, people aren't lining up around the block to have this experience, and the entire idea of a photo SERIES is that I need multiple participants. At this rate the series wouldn't be completed by my thirtieth birthday. Kind of the whole point.

But behind the blog curtain I've been carrying on a second photo series, an idea that I had way before Styled by Child. Here is a little taste:

This series should be completed over the course of the next week or two. Looking forward to crossing another challenge off the list.

I'd like to thank the two mothers who did participate. I still love what came out of those shoots, and now they each have some digital images that their kids can use as blackmail for decades to come.

Photo Series Part Two

Happy belated Mother's Day to all of the moms out there (including my own, who has held the no. 1 spot since about 6:00 p.m. on November 26, 1982).

So it was rather appropriate that on this day I completed another session toward my photo series in which small children style their parent(s) for a portrait.

This one I call Abstract Cupcake: 

And it is my great pleasure to introduce the artist behind this masterpiece:

Photo Series. Go.

Challenge no. 12 is to create a conceptual photo series. As of yesterday, this one is in full swing. Introducing: STYLED BY CHILD. The name is a placeholder, but the idea is that kids ages three to five style one or both of their parents (this includes the outfit, accessories, hair and makeup), and then I do a portrait of the parent as styled by their kid(s). The parent has no say in how they look. They are at the stylistic mercy of their offspring.

I will post more photos as I collect more portraits, but here is a series sneak peek. She looked like a gypsy who had been coal mining. It was awesome: 

Camera Adventures

Since three of my challenges involve photography, I've been toying with the idea of upgrading my camera. I've had my Nikon D90 for a few years now, and while it has been the best camera I've ever owned, I'm ready for the next level.

The next level for me is a Canon 5D Mark II. Yes, I'm making the switch from Nikon to Canon. And I don't feel bad about it. I gave a good ten years and thousands of dollars to Nikon.

Knowing I wanted to purchase the new camera before our Italy trip, I took Nikon out for one last adventure over the weekend. Austin, Dagmar, Nikon and I went down to Washington Square Park, found a bench in the sun, and listened to some beautiful live piano music. After a while we ventured out for some falafel, followed by a trip to the art store so I could gather up some watercolor supplies for challenge no. 25.

Many hours later, Austin, Dagmar and I headed home.

Me. Austin. Dagmar.

I left Nikon listening to piano music on a bench in Washington Square Park. For three hours. On a warm, beautiful day. In New York City. Honestly, I almost didn't go back. I was sure it was gone and didn't want to waste a cab ride downtown when I would just end up making an embarrassingly tearful scene in public. But I did go back.

Nikon was still there. Unbelievable, I know. And an embarrassingly tearful scene in public ended up happening anyway. However, it was a short-lived reunion as just this morning I put Nikon up for sale on eBay.

I look forward to my new relationship with Canon and all of the beautiful images we will create together.

Aperturious

I was going to wait until I completed Challenge #12 (create a photo series) until I tackled Challenge #18 (get a photo or photos in a gallery and/or sell one of your photos). But I've been wanting to set up an Etsy shop for a while now, and I thought that it might be a good avenue to sell a photo or two.

Once I create a photo series, I'm still going to try to have them shown somewhere, but until then, the "or" part of Challenge #18 is the route I'm taking. My shop went live today on Etsy.com. It's called APERTURIOUS: A PHOTOGRAPHY SHOP. I still have to create a header, and more photographs might be added later, but at least we're up and running.

This isn't a cheap plug to get you to head on over to my Etsy shop. Most of you have probably seen these photos anyway. I'm hoping for a total stranger to come across something they like enough to frame and hang on their wall. Then I will consider the challenge officially met.

If anyone has an Etsy shop of their own and/or any advice to share, feel free to leave a comment or email me here.